Folding machine



Jan. 31, 1939. Q E. F FOLGER 7 291459592 FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 28,1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 311, 1939.

E, F. FOLGER FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1937 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FixJan. 311, 1939.. I

E. F, FOLGER FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 3fxwenfw:

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE FOLDING MACHINEApplication June 28, 1937, Serial No. 150,730

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to folding devices and more particularly to thecontrol mechanism for automatically timing the folding of fabricarticles and the like.

One of the objects is to provide a control device actuated by thearticles themselves for folding them in half or other predeterminedratio of their length. Another object is to automatically actuate thefolder when the article passing the folder is in folding relationthereto.

Another object is to provide for the automatic folding of articles ofvarying sizes as they are successively fed singly into the foldingmachine.

These and other objects are attained by utilizing the principle ofproportionate distance covered by bodies traveling oppositely from acommon point, which principle is embodied in the device described in thespecification and illustrated in the drawings forming part thereof, thenovel improvements being specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a vertical elevation view of a folding machine embodyingthis invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the control mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the side elevation of the control andknife actuating mechanisms.

Fig. 4 shows an end elevation view of the control mechanism to clearlyillustrate its position.

Fig. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of the device embodied in thisinvention.

A typical folding machine is illustrated in Fig. 1, and includes belts Itraveling over rollers 2, which are driven by a motor 3|. Fabricarticles as shown by 32, or other like articles such as sheets,tablecloths, towels, napkins, etc., are adapted to be fed onto belt I atpoint 33, and carried by belt I past folding device 21 which, whenactuated toward rollers 2 and 2 will wedge the article between belts Iand I to be carried away by them in a folded condition. Since thearticles are of varying sizes, a device will be here described whichwill effectively divide each article with respect to the folder 21 andwill actuate folder Z'I at the proper moment.

At a point immediately preceding folder 2?, a member 3 of controlmechanism housed by 5 is placed in space 29 between belts I, in the pathof the articles to be folded, and is adapted by reason of pivot i to beelevated by the articles, its own weight causing it normally to extendbelow the surface of belts I. As is best shown in the elevation detailsof side view shown in Fig. 3 and the elevation details of end view shownin Fig. 4, when member 3 is pivoted upward contact is broken at switch6.

Thus, in the particular embodiment here illustrated, switch 6 is adaptedto control an electric circuit to solenoid 8 of control mechanism 5 andsolenoid 8 of folding mechanism 5', through bus bars 9, 9', and 9 andcontacts I, I, l, and 'I, from leads In and I0, best shown in wiringcircuit diagram Fig. 5. Thus when member 3 is elevated by leading edgeof article to be folded thereby breaking the electric circuit tosolenoids 8 and 8 plunger I5 of solenoid 8 and plunger I5 of solenoid 8are released by their respective solenoids to be pushed outward by theirrespective springs I4 and I4 to act by the nature of their constructionupon keys I6 and Iii of their respective mechanisms.

Mechanisms 5 and 5' are movable and supported by tracks I3 and I3 whichextend above and parallel to the path of articles carried by belts I andtracks I3 are parts of respective runners I I and I I swung betweensupports such as 24. Also supported by brackets 24 and 24', as bestshown in Fig. 1, are two constantly revolving shafts 23 and 20' parallelto tracks I3 in working relation to mechanisms 5 and 5 and .driven bymotor 3| by means of shaft 23 and gears 22, 22, 2I, and 2| and therebysynchronized to rollers 2 supporting belts I. Shafts 2i] and 2!! areconstructed to form threaded worm drives for propelling mechanisms 5 and5 to their proper respective positions through action set up by member3, inasmuch as member 3 controls the relationship of keys [6 and shafts20 At the normal starting position of mechanism 5 as shown in Fig. 3 keyI6 is elevated in guides I8 by reason of pin H of split end of solenoidplunger I5 acting upon cam-slot I to be engaged by threaded grooves ofworm drive 20 and likewise at the normal starting position of mechanism5' key I6 is elevated in guides I8" and I8 by reason of pin ll of splitend of plunger I5 acting upon cam-slot I9 to be engaged in threads ofworm drive 2|].

Thus, when member 3 is elevated by the leading edge of article breakingthe circuit of electric power to solenoids 8 and 8 allowing respectivesprings I4 and I4 to thrust respective plungers I5 and I5 outward,respective pins IT and I1 will act upon respective cam-slots I9 and I9to withdraw respective keys I6 and I6 from worm drive 20 therebyengaging keys It to worm drive 20 revolving in a direction opposite tothat of worm drive 20. Thus, control mechanism 5 is drawn by worm drive20' along supporting tracks l3 in a path above and parallel to the pathof the moving article and in an opposite direction thereto. In likemanner, folding mechanism is drawn in a like direction therebywithdrawing folder 21 from groove between rollers 2 and 2' by virtue ofcooperating members 25 and 26 being coupled to folding mechanism 5',distance of withdrawal being governed by the length of the section ofthread on worm drive 20' engaging key l6.

Control mechanism 5 is adapted to be moved back to its starting positionby the release of member 3 as it drops from trailing edge of movingarticle into space 29 between belts l thereby closing the electriccircuit at switch 6 to energize solenoid 8 which draws in plunger [5which acts to disengage key I 6 from worm drive 20' and engage same keywith oppositely-revolving worm drive 28. At the same instant, solenoid8' becomes energized to draw in plunger I5 which acts to disengage keyHi from worm drive 20 and engage same key with worm drive 26, therebyfolding mechanism 5' to be drawn in an opposite direction to act throughcooperating members 25 and 26 to thrust folder 2'! into groove formed byrollers 2 and 2' thus wedging article between belts I and l to becarried away by them in a folded condition.

It is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 that at the time folder 2'! isactuated to wedge the article into a fold between rollers 2,approximately as much of the article has been carried past the folder2'! as there yet remains on belt I by reason that control mechanism 5has been caused to travel at approximately the same speed in onedirection as the article was caused to travel in the opposite direction,both from a given point which was the starting position immediatelypreceding location of folder 2'! as best shown in Fig. 3. The diiferencebetween the point of contact of the leading edge of article where itelevates member 3 and the folder 2'! is balanced by the distance 21 isrequired to travel before it actuates a fold.

It is clearly indicated that this combination is adapted to foldarticles as fast as they are fed singly into the machine, one behind theother, and it is clearly indicated that article might be fed into a likemachine in two or more paths each path to be governed by a like foldingcontrol mechanism and folder and all powered by a common shaft 23.

The machine need not be limited to folding articles in the approximatemiddle of said articles. For by adjusting gears 2i and 2| on respectiveWorm drives 20 and 20 to their proper ratio one to the other, therebychanging the ratio of speed between 20' and rollers 2 and 2', the ratioof speed between control mechanism 5 and belts I can be adjusted therebyto fold articles at any desired ratio of their length.

It will thus be seen that the embodiments of the various features of theinvention have been fully described, that they attain the variousobjects of the invention and are well suited to the requirements ofpractical use. Many widely different embodiments could be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the construction herein illustrated.

It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the descriptivecopy and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Accordingly, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent,is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means formoving the articles to be folded toward a folder, of a carrier controldevice in close proximity to said folder, means actuated by the leadingedge of any of said articles for simultaneously withdrawing said folderfrom the path of said. article and moving said control device toward thetrailing edge of said article, said means adapted to be actuated by saidtrailing edge of said moving article for thrusting said folder intoengagement with said article at the same speed as conveying means.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means formoving the articles to be folded toward a folder, of a carrier controldevice in close proximity tosaid folder, of a pivoted member of saidcontrol device in the path of said moving articles, means actuated bycontact of the leading edge of any of said articles with said member ofsaid control device for simultaneously moving said member toward thetrailing edge of said article and withdrawing said folder from the pathof said article, said member adapted to be actuated by the trailing edgeof said article for simultaneously engaging said folding means with saidarticle at the same speed as conveying means and returning said controldevice to its starting position at the same speed as conveying means.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means formoving articles to be folded into folding position, a folding means andcarrier control device therefor adapted to be driven by a pair ofoppositely-revolving worm drive shafts parallel to and synchronized inpredetermined speed relation with said conveying means, and meansactuated by contact of the leading edge of any of said articles with apivoted switch member of said control device for simultaneously engagingsaid control device and said folding means with one of said revolvingdrive shafts for withdrawing said folding means from the path of saidarticle and moving said member toward the trailing edge of said article,said means adapted to simultaneously disengage said revolving driveshaft and engage said other revolving drive shaft for moving saidfolding means into engagement with said moving article and returningsaid member of said control device to its starting position when contactbetween said member and said moving article is broken.

4. In a folding machine including means for moving articles to be foldedtoward a folder, a control device therefor, comprising a circuit closingmember pivoted in the path of said articles, a solenoid adapted to beexcited by said circuit closing member, a key mechanism adapted to beactuated by said solenoid for engaging alternately each of a pair ofoppositely-revolving worm drive shafts when said circuit closing memberis contacted and released respectively by the leading and trailing edgesof said articles.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means formoving articles to be folded into folding position, a pivoted circuitclosing member of a carrier control device adapted to be driven in andparallel to the path of said articles alternately by a pair ofoppositelydriving worm shafts synchronized to said conveying means, afolding means comprising an electrically controlled key mechanismexcited by said circuit closing member, a folding blade pivoted to saidkey mechanism adapted to be moved at the same speed as conveying meansby engagement of said key mechanism with a said worm drive shaft whensaid circuit closing memher is contacted and released respectively bythe leading and trailing edges of said articles.

6. In a folding machine in combination, means for moving articles to befolded toward a folder, a circuit closing member of a carrier controldevice in the path of said articles in close proximity to said folder,means actuated upon contact of leading edge of any of said articles tobe folded with said circuit closing member for simultaneouslywithdrawing said folder from the path of said article and moving saidmember of said control device toward the trailing edge of said articlein predetermined speed relation thereto, said means adapted by releaseof said member by the trailing edge of said article to simultaneouslymove said folder into engagement with said article at the same speed asconveying means whereby said article will be folded in predeterminedratio of its length and said member will be returned to its startingposition at the same speed as conveying means whereby said article Willbe folded in predetermined ratio of its length.

'7. A measuring device for articles of various lengths comprising acontrol mechanism and a folding mechanism at a common folding station,means for conveying any of said articles past said mechanisms, commonmeans actuated by any of said articles for simultaneously moving saidmechanisms in opposite directions away from said station at apredetermined speed relative to said moving article, said means adaptedto reverse said movement to effect simultaneously the folding of saidarticle by said folding mechanism at a distance from the leading edge ofsaid article equal to a predetermined fraction of the length of saidarticle and return said control mechanism to its starting position.

EVERETT F. FOLGER.

